For a while now, writers and directors have been trying to find a balance while creating characters for Mohanlal -- they try to maintain his larger-than-life image as well as explore the talent of one of the most natural actors of our times.

Madampi, directed by Unnikrishnan B, has the perfect blend of both. This is a big achievement, considering the star's recent outings like Ali Bhai and College Kumaran with established directors have not done much for him.

There is no novelty in the film's plot or the narrative technique. Still, Mohanlal's character has some substance in it.

Gopalakrishnan (Mohanlal) is a money-lender in a village. People misunderstand him to be money-minded, without having any emotional bond even towards his mother or younger brother Ramakrishnan (Ajmal). There are other story elements that are typical to Mohanlal films like the enemies in the form of a feudal family, as well as people, who know he is a do-gooder.

As the story moves along, we learn more about our hero. He is hard-hearted, as he was thrown out his father when he was a teenager for his wayward lifestyle. His mother hates him for doing that and his brother hates him because he does not let his brother pursue his dream of being an actor.

There are other conflicts like the stock of rivals in the form of Siddique and his younger brothers. Then, there is more rivalry in the form of Jayalakshmi (Kavya Madhavan [Images]), a bank manager.

Director Unnikrishnan deserves a pat on his back for tweaking a formulaic and predictable storyline that will go down well with the star's fans as well as the general audience. Mohanlal does not go overboard with his one-liners.

On the whole, Madampi is watchable.

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